Miami Herald

Pizarro on top of world in new playmaker role

- BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN mkaufman@miamiheral­d.com

Rodolfo Pizarro leaned back in a sofa on the balcony of his 49th floor luxury Miami apartment Friday afternoon and opened up about soccer and life as he admired panoramic views of Biscayne

Bay, Museum Park and futuristic skyscraper­s.

From his perch, he has a clear view of David Beckham’s two-story penthouse but says he and his Inter Miami boss have yet to run into each other in their downtown neighborho­od.

Never in his wildest dreams as a scrawny kid growing up in Tampico, Mexico, did Pizarro imagine he would someday be playing for and living across the street from a global soccer icon. But that is where the 27-year-old finds himself.

Known for celebratin­g goals by mimicking The Joker’s exaggerate­d grin, Pizarro has plenty to smile about these days.

The dynamic long-haired

midfielder is about to begin his second season with Inter Miami and has been told by new coach Phil Neville that he will primarily be a playmaker and should expect to have the ball at his feet more. He should aim for 100 touches a game. That is music to Pizarro’s ears.

Pizarro has also become a mainstay on the Mexican national team and is traveling with “El Tri” in Europe for a pair of friendlies over the next 10 days. He left on Saturday for Cardiff, Wales, where Mexico will play Wales on Saturday and then heads to Austria to face Costa Rica on March 30. He returns to Miami on the following dayin time to train a few weeks before Inter Miami’s home opener April 18 against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Pizarro also has a new shoe

 ?? JOSE A. IGLESIAS jiglesias@elnuevoher­ald.com ?? Rodolfo Pizarro can see Inter Miami owner David Beckham’s two-story penthouse from his luxury apartment in Miami.
Rodolfo Pizarro, Inter Miami’s Mexican midfielder, expects to play a bigger role in the team’s offense this MLS season. He also signed a shoe deal with Charly.
JOSE A. IGLESIAS jiglesias@elnuevoher­ald.com Rodolfo Pizarro can see Inter Miami owner David Beckham’s two-story penthouse from his luxury apartment in Miami. Rodolfo Pizarro, Inter Miami’s Mexican midfielder, expects to play a bigger role in the team’s offense this MLS season. He also signed a shoe deal with Charly.

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